Downhill Racer Page #3

- You practising today?

- Yeah.

- How's it going?

- Good.

- Yeah?

- The snow's great.

- Is it?

- You bet.

I thought you'd never stop.

- Tired?

- A little.

My legs.

You see, it's right in here. When

you're forward, this takes all the action.

Put the brakes on.

I think it must be the most thrilling thing

in the whole world, don't you?

And you have to be terribly strong,

even for a man.

Well, there is a girls' team, too.

Oh, yes, of course. Where are they?

Well, they're not here.

They're in Grindelwald.

They don't really

do the same things, do they?

- Some of them do.

- Yes?

- Well, some of the things.

- Oh, what do you mean?

- Well, it's like you say, they...

- Actually, our girls have done...

Done better in the Olympics

than the men.

I mean, really?

Well, isn't that interesting.

Tell me, why would a girl want to do it?

I mean, I wouldn't. First of all,

I just wouldn't have all that strength

in the mornings and...

And the morning is important, isn't it?

Well, a man in the morning...

I think a man must feel stronger

in the morning.

- I think you're right.

- He certainly looks stronger.

Well, you'd know more about that.

- You got a point, you know.

- I wonder.

Well, you know, I think... I think

girls look stronger and feel stronger.

Yes?

I've known some girls who look

stronger, but when you...

Yeah, we have some

very strong girls on the team.

And they have to get up very early.

And they have to get up very early.

I'd say a girl that feels strong looks

strong, wouldn't you say that, Tony?

- Or vice versa.

- Some do and some don't.

Yes, you're probably right.

Some of them must.

Yes, of course. Yes.

Well...

Thank you.

Oh.

Excuse me.

You what?

Pardon me. Pardon me.

Are you David Chappellet?

Yeah.

Well, I'm doing a story on the team

and also on skiing.

And I'd like to find out

everything I can about it.

- I could never learn, could I?

- What?

I don't know, everything.

Like for example, do you go

as fast as you can all the time?

Yeah, I go as fast as I can.

I know that sounds a little foolish,

almost stupid.

But I don't know really what to ask.

- Do you have to give up a lot? I mean...

- What?

Do you mind

my asking these questions?

- No, I don't mind.

- All right, what I mean is...

Well, do you practise...

Do you practise self-denial?

- Part of the time.

- Fascinating.

- Yeah? Really?

- Does it affect your strength?

- Do you like that?

- Yeah.

- What are you doing?

- The boss pays.

Thank you very much.

- Would you like a drink?

- No, thanks.

Look, if you have to get to bed,

I understand.

I know everything about self-denial.

No drinks, no late nights...

3:
15.

Did you know

how quick your time was at the gate?

No, I was by

before I even thought about it.

- What?

- What are your plans for next year?

What about the light conditions?

It's fine. I... It didn't bother me.

- What are your plans for next season?

- I think I'd like to...

Could you have run any better?

I guess you can always run better.

- Tell me, how does it feel to have won?

- Feels great. What's your name?

So Chappellet's just made

the fastest time.

What do you think of his time?

He still didn't beat the record, you know.

...your success?

Well, has it made any difference to you?

He's getting better all the time.

...my friends over here.

- No, no, I don't think so. We hoped.

- Jake!

And now, what are your future plans?

You know, what are you gonna do?

All right, just tell the girls

we'll meet them 8:00 at the Tenne.

Okay. So long.

- Hey.

- How's it going?

It was a damn good race today.

Thought I was going to beat you.

Yeah, I had a good run.

Only missed one turn. Took it too wide.

Only one turn, huh?

Did you hear him?

"I only missed one turn, you know,

"just one because I'm really good.

"And if I hadn't gone wide

on that other one...

"You know what?

I would have broken the record."

Probably would have.

He thinks he's the only guy

that ever won a downhill.

He's as jazzed with himself

as Max Meier.

- That's not your style, is it, John?

- What?

Come on.

All right, he's good and he's fast

and he wins a couple of races.

And I'm the first one to admit

that a good racer turns everybody on.

But he is not for the team

and he never will be.

Well, it's not exactly a team sport, is it?

Maybe you're right.

- Alec?

- Right here.

It's getting icier by the minute.

- I'll tell him.

- He did 2:
20.

- What?

- Meier's time.

Meier got 2:
20.

Why should I feel bad?

I had a good year.

I got myself seeded.

Creech?

Well, he wins sometimes,

I win sometimes.

We're both Americans.

Good. I feel good. I do.

I said the garage was having

trouble getting parts for the car.

It would take them a day or two.

Machet wants to send a car for me,

but I said I was quite content.

Content?

Machet always take

such good care of you?

Always. He's a very good boss.

- He give you this?

- No, somebody else did.

Before my time.

You got a thing with Machet?

Something going?

Not exactly. We never made love.

- What's wrong with him?

- Nothing. I just never wanted to.

How do you feel

about the season, Eugene?

I think we had a damn good season.

For the first time, we've won

the respect of the Europeans.

You're damn right.

We've got two top racers.

Either one of them

could win the Olympics.

When I stop saying it

and start thinking it,

then we're all in a lot of trouble.

Look, we can't take a team to Europe

and expect them to compete

against the Meiers and the Boyrivens

by selling lapel buttons.

Okay, okay. You give us the money,

and I guarantee you I'll get you a gold

medal at the Olympics. Maybe two.

If we're going out on a limb

for this kind of a budget, gentlemen,

I propose we set up

a watchdog committee.

Well, we've...

We've never been stronger,

I think I can say that.

Oh, we... We've never had

as good a team.

I think we might very well

surprise some people.

Do you expect to win

any medals in the Olympics?

Which events?

Well, we'd like to win

medals, of course.

I don't expect anything.

It's too fragile a sport.

- This is your third season in Europe?

- What do you feel your chances are?

- Do you notice any difference?

- Difference? In the FIS?

Well, hopefully, we will get

in better shape in the first three races,

then go on to take the Olympics.

That's my plan, at least.

- Well, how do you feel about...

- I think our chances are very good.

Well, I used to come to New York,

and I'd have my skis in a case

and my boots, and they'd say,

"What are they?" I'd say, "Skis."

"Skis?" they would say.

"Where are you jumping?"

Now they say, "I saw your picture

in Sports Illustrated."

Hello?

- Hello?

- Hello, David?

Hello.

Oh, I'm in Megve.

- I saw you arriving today on television.

- You did? Hey, I've missed you.

- I missed you, too.

- You have?

- Are you going to come down here?

- How long are you going to be there?

Till Thursday.

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